Scientific American Magazine - May 21, 2008 Does Time Run Backwar in !t"er #ni$erses% !

ne of t"e most &asic facts of 'ife is t"at t"e future 'ooks ifferent from t"e (ast) But on a gran cosmo'ogica' sca'e, t"ey may 'ook t"e same By Sean M) *arro'' T"e uni$erse oes not 'ook rig"t) T"at may seem 'ike a strange t"ing to say, gi$en t"at cosmo'ogists "a$e $ery 'itt'e stan ar for com(arison) +ow o we know w"at t"e uni$erse is su((ose to 'ook 'ike% ,e$ert"e'ess, o$er t"e years we "a$e e$e'o(e a strong intuition for w"at counts as -natura'./an t"e uni$erse we see oes not 0ua'ify) Make no mistake1 cosmo'ogists "a$e (ut toget"er an incre i&'y successfu' (icture of w"at t"e uni$erse is ma e of an "ow it "as e$o'$e ) Some 12 &i''ion years ago t"e cosmos was "otter an enser t"an t"e interior of a star, an since t"en it "as &een coo'ing off an t"inning out as t"e fa&ric of s(ace e3(an s) T"is (icture accounts for 4ust a&out e$ery o&ser$ation we "a$e ma e, &ut a num&er of unusua' features, es(ecia''y in t"e ear'y uni$erse, suggest t"at t"ere is more to t"e story t"an we un erstan ) Among t"e unnatura' as(ects of t"e uni$erse, one stan s out1 time asymmetry) T"e microsco(ic 'aws of ("ysics t"at un er'ie t"e &e"a$ior of t"e uni$erse o not istinguis" &etween (ast an future, yet t"e ear'y uni$erse/"ot, ense, "omogeneous/is com('ete'y ifferent from to ay5s/coo', i'ute, 'um(y) T"e uni$erse starte off or er'y an "as &een getting increasing'y isor er'y e$er since) T"e asymmetry of time, t"e arrow t"at (oints from (ast to future, ('ays an unmistaka&'e ro'e in our e$ery ay 'i$es1 it accounts for w"y we cannot turn an ome'et into an egg, w"y ice cu&es ne$er s(ontaneous'y unme't in a g'ass of water, an w"y we remem&er t"e (ast &ut not t"e future) An t"e origin of t"e asymmetry we e3(erience can &e trace a'' t"e way &ack to t"e or er'iness of t"e uni$erse near t"e &ig &ang) 6$ery time you &reak an egg, you are oing o&ser$ationa' cosmo'ogy) T"e arrow of time is argua&'y t"e most &'atant feature of t"e uni$erse t"at cosmo'ogists are current'y at an utter 'oss to e3('ain) 7ncreasing'y, "owe$er, t"is (uzz'e a&out t"e uni$erse we o&ser$e "ints at t"e e3istence of a muc" 'arger s(acetime we o not o&ser$e) 7t a s su((ort to t"e notion t"at we are (art of a mu'ti$erse w"ose ynamics "e'( to e3('ain t"e seeming'y unnatura' features of our 'oca' $icinity) T"e 8uzz'e of 6ntro(y 8"ysicists enca(su'ate t"e conce(t of time asymmetry in t"e ce'e&rate secon 'aw of t"ermo ynamics1 entro(y in a c'ose system ne$er ecreases) Roug"'y, entro(y is a measure of t"e isor er of a system) 7n t"e 19t" century, Austrian ("ysicist :u wig Bo'tzmann e3('aine entro(y in terms of t"e istinction &etween t"e microstate of an o&4ect an its macrostate) 7f you were aske to escri&e a cu( of coffee, you wou' most 'ike'y refer to its macrostate/its tem(erature, (ressure an ot"er o$era'' features) T"e microstate, on t"e ot"er "an , s(ecifies t"e (recise (osition an $e'ocity of e$ery sing'e atom in t"e 'i0ui ) Many ifferent microstates corres(on to any one (articu'ar macrostate1 we cou' mo$e an atom "ere an t"ere, an no&o y 'ooking at macrosco(ic sca'es wou' notice) 6ntro(y is t"e num&er of ifferent microstates t"at corres(on to t"e same macrostate) ;Tec"nica''y, it is t"e num&er of igits, or 'ogarit"m, of t"at num&er)< T"us, t"ere are more ways to arrange a gi$en num&er of atoms into a "ig"-entro(y configuration t"an into a 'ow-entro(y one) 7magine t"at you (our mi'k into your coffee) T"ere are a great many ways to istri&ute t"e mo'ecu'es so t"at t"e mi'k an

coffee are com('ete'y mi3e toget"er &ut re'ati$e'y few ways to arrange t"em so t"at t"e mi'k is segregate from t"e surroun ing coffee) So t"e mi3ture "as a "ig"er entro(y) =rom t"is (oint of $iew, it is not sur(rising t"at entro(y ten s to increase wit" time) +ig"-entro(y states great'y outnum&er 'ow-entro(y ones> a'most any c"ange to t"e system wi'' 'an it in a "ig"er-entro(y state, sim('y &y t"e 'uck of t"e raw) T"at is w"y mi'k mi3es wit" coffee &ut ne$er unmi3es) A't"oug" it is ("ysica''y (ossi&'e for a'' t"e mi'k mo'ecu'es to s(ontaneous'y cons(ire to arrange t"emse'$es ne3t to one anot"er, it is statistica''y $ery un'ike'y) 7f you waite for it to "a((en of its own accor as mo'ecu'es ran om'y res"uff'e , you wou' ty(ica''y "a$e to wait muc" 'onger t"an t"e current age of t"e o&ser$a&'e uni$erse) T"e arrow of time is sim('y t"e ten ency of systems to e$o'$e towar one of t"e numerous, natura', "ig"-entro(y states) But e3('aining w"y 'ow-entro(y states e$o'$e into "ig"-entro(y states is ifferent from e3('aining w"y entro(y is increasing in our uni$erse) T"e 0uestion remains1 ?"y was t"e entro(y 'ow to start wit"% 7t seems $ery unnatura', gi$en t"at 'ow-entro(y states are so rare) 6$en granting t"at our uni$erse to ay "as me ium entro(y, t"at oes not e3('ain w"y t"e entro(y use to &e e$en 'ower) !f a'' t"e (ossi&'e initia' con itions t"at cou' "a$e e$o'$e into a uni$erse 'ike ours, t"e o$erw"e'ming ma4ority "a$e muc" "ig"er entro(y, not 'ower @see -T"e Arrow of Time,. &y Da$i :ayzer> Scientific American, Decem&er 19ABC) 7n ot"er wor s, t"e rea' c"a''enge is not to e3('ain w"y t"e entro(y of t"e uni$erse wi'' &e "ig"er tomorrow t"an it is to ay &ut to e3('ain w"y t"e entro(y was 'ower yester ay an e$en 'ower t"e ay &efore t"at) ?e can trace t"is 'ogic a'' t"e way &ack to t"e &eginning of time in our o&ser$a&'e uni$erse) #'timate'y, time asymmetry is a 0uestion for cosmo'ogy to answer) T"e Disor er of 6m(tiness T"e ear'y uni$erse was a remarka&'e ('ace) A'' t"e (artic'es t"at make u( t"e uni$erse we current'y o&ser$e were s0ueeze into an e3traor inari'y "ot, ense $o'ume) Most im(ortant, t"ey were istri&ute near'y uniform'y t"roug"out t"at tiny $o'ume) !n a$erage, t"e ensity iffere from ('ace to ('ace &y on'y a&out one (art in 100,000) Dra ua''y, as t"e uni$erse e3(an e an coo'e , t"e (u'' of gra$ity en"ance t"ose ifferences) Regions wit" s'ig"t'y more (artic'es forme stars an ga'a3ies, an regions wit" s'ig"t'y fewer (artic'es em(tie out to form $oi s) *'ear'y, gra$ity "as &een crucia' to t"e e$o'ution of t"e uni$erse) #nfortunate'y, we o not fu''y un erstan entro(y w"en gra$ity is in$o'$e ) Dra$ity arises from t"e s"a(e of s(acetime, &ut we o not "a$e a com(re"ensi$e t"eory of s(acetime> t"at is t"e goa' of a 0uantum t"eory of gra$ity) ?"ereas we can re'ate t"e entro(y of a f'ui to t"e &e"a$ior of t"e mo'ecu'es t"at constitute it, we o not know w"at constitutes s(ace, so we o not know w"at gra$itationa' microstates corres(on to any (articu'ar macrostate) ,e$ert"e'ess, we "a$e a roug" i ea of "ow entro(y e$o'$es) 7n situations w"ere gra$ity is neg'igi&'e, suc" as a cu( of coffee, a uniform istri&ution of (artic'es "as a "ig" entro(y) T"is con ition is a state of e0ui'i&rium) 6$en w"en (artic'es res"uff'e t"emse'$es, t"ey are a'rea y so t"oroug"'y mi3e t"at not"ing muc" seems to "a((en macrosco(ica''y) But if gra$ity is im(ortant an t"e $o'ume is fi3e , a smoot" istri&ution "as re'ati$e'y 'ow entro(y) 7n t"is case, t"e system is $ery far from e0ui'i&rium) Dra$ity causes (artic'es to c'um( into stars an ga'a3ies, an entro(y increases noticea&'y/consistent wit" t"e secon 'aw) 7n ee , if we want to ma3imize t"e entro(y of a $o'ume w"en gra$ity is acti$e, we know w"at we wi''

get1 a &'ack "o'e) 7n t"e 19A0s Ste("en +awking of t"e #ni$ersity of *am&ri ge confirme a (ro$ocati$e suggestion of Eaco& Bekenstein, now at t"e +e&rew #ni$ersity of Eerusa'em, t"at &'ack "o'es fit neat'y into t"e secon 'aw) :ike t"e "ot o&4ects t"at t"e secon 'aw was origina''y formu'ate to escri&e, &'ack "o'es emit ra iation an "a$e entro(y/a 'ot of it) A sing'e mi''ion-so'ar-mass &'ack "o'e, suc" as t"e one t"at 'i$es at t"e center of our ga'a3y, "as 100 times t"e entro(y of a'' t"e or inary (artic'es in t"e o&ser$a&'e uni$erse) 6$entua''y e$en &'ack "o'es e$a(orate &y emitting +awking ra iation) A &'ack "o'e oes not "a$e t"e "ig"est (ossi&'e entro(y/&ut 4ust t"e "ig"est entro(y t"at can &e (acke into a certain $o'ume) T"e $o'ume of s(ace in t"e uni$erse, "owe$er, a((ears to &e growing wit"out 'imit) 7n 1998 astronomers isco$ere t"at cosmic e3(ansion is acce'erating) T"e most straig"tforwar e3('anation is t"e e3istence of ark energy, a form of energy t"at e3ists e$en in em(ty s(ace an oes not a((ear to i'ute away as t"e uni$erse e3(an s) 7t is not t"e on'y e3('anation for cosmic acce'eration, &ut attem(ts to come u( wit" a &etter i ea "a$e so far fa''en s"ort) 7f ark energy oes not i'ute away, t"e uni$erse wi'' e3(an fore$er) Distant ga'a3ies wi'' isa((ear from $iew @see -T"e 6n of *osmo'ogy%. &y :awrence M) Frauss an Ro&ert E) Sc"errer> Scientific American, Marc"C) T"ose t"at o not wi'' co''a(se into &'ack "o'es, w"ic" in turn wi'' e$a(orate into t"e surroun ing g'oom as sure'y as a (u 'e ries u( on a "ot ay) ?"at wi'' &e 'eft is a uni$erse t"at is, for a'' intents an (ur(oses, em(ty) T"en an on'y t"en wi'' t"e uni$erse tru'y "a$e ma3e out its entro(y) T"e uni$erse wi'' &e in e0ui'i&rium, an not"ing muc" wi'' e$er "a((en) 7t may seem strange t"at em(ty s(ace "as suc" a "uge entro(y) 7t soun s 'ike saying t"at t"e most isorganize esk in t"e wor' is a com('ete'y em(ty esk) 6ntro(y re0uires microstates, an at first g'ance em(ty s(ace oes not "a$e any) 7n actua'ity, t"oug", em(ty s(ace "as ('enty of microstates/t"e 0uantum-gra$itationa' microstates &ui't into t"e fa&ric of s(ace) ?e o not yet know w"at e3act'y t"ese states are, any more t"an we know w"at microstates account for t"e entro(y of a &'ack "o'e, &ut we o know t"at in an acce'erating uni$erse t"e entro(y wit"in t"e o&ser$a&'e $o'ume a((roac"es a constant $a'ue (ro(ortiona' to t"e area of its &oun ary) 7t is a tru'y enormous amount of entro(y, far greater t"an t"at of t"e matter wit"in t"at $o'ume) 8ast $s) =uture T"e striking feature of t"is story is t"e (ronounce ifference &etween t"e (ast an t"e future) T"e uni$erse starts in a state of $ery 'ow entro(y1 (artic'es (acke toget"er smoot"'y) 7t e$o'$es t"roug" a state of me ium entro(y1 t"e 'um(y istri&ution of stars an ga'a3ies we see aroun us to ay) 7t u'timate'y reac"es a state of "ig" entro(y1 near'y em(ty s(ace, featuring on'y t"e occasiona' stray 'owenergy (artic'e) ?"y are t"e (ast an future so ifferent% 7t is not enoug" to sim('y (osit a t"eory of initia' con itions /a reason w"y t"e uni$erse starte wit" 'ow entro(y) As ("i'oso("er +uw 8rice of t"e #ni$ersity of Sy ney "as (ointe out, any reasoning t"at a(('ies to t"e initia' con itions s"ou' a'so a(('y to t"e fina' con itions, or e'se we wi'' &e gui'ty of assuming t"e $ery t"ing we were trying to (ro$e/t"at t"e (ast was s(ecia') 6it"er we "a$e to take t"e (rofoun asymmetry of time as a &'unt feature of t"e uni$erse t"at esca(es e3('anation, or we "a$e to ig ee(er into t"e workings of s(ace an time) Many cosmo'ogists "a$e trie to attri&ute t"e time asymmetry to t"e (rocess of cosmo'ogica' inf'ation) 7nf'ation is an attracti$e e3('anation for many &asic features of t"e uni$erse) Accor ing to t"is i ea, t"e $ery ear'y uni$erse ;or at 'east some (art of it< was fi''e not wit" (artic'es &ut rat"er wit" a tem(orary form of ark energy, w"ose ensity was enormous'y "ig"er t"an t"e ark energy we o&ser$e to ay)

T"is energy cause t"e e3(ansion of t"e uni$erse to acce'erate at a fantastic rate, after w"ic" it ecaye into matter an ra iation, 'ea$ing &e"in a tiny wis( of ark energy t"at is &ecoming re'e$ant again to ay) T"e rest of t"e story of t"e &ig &ang, from t"e smoot" (rimor ia' gas to ga'a3ies an &eyon , sim('y fo''ows) T"e origina' moti$ation for inf'ation was to (ro$i e a ro&ust e3('anation for t"e fine'y tune con itions in t"e ear'y uni$erse/in (articu'ar, t"e remarka&'y uniform ensity of matter in wi e'y se(arate regions) T"e acce'eration ri$en &y t"e tem(orary ark energy smoot"s out t"e uni$erse a'most (erfect'y) T"e (rior istri&ution of matter an energy is irre'e$ant> once inf'ation starts, it remo$es any traces of t"e (ree3isting con itions, 'ea$ing us wit" a "ot, ense, smoot" ear'y uni$erse) T"e inf'ationary (ara igm "as &een $ery successfu' in many ways) 7ts (re ictions of s'ig"t e$iations from (erfect uniformity agree wit" o&ser$ations of ensity $ariations in t"e uni$erse) As an e3('anation for time asymmetry, "owe$er, cosmo'ogists increasing'y consi er it a &it of a c"eat, for reasons t"at Roger 8enrose of t"e #ni$ersity of !3for an ot"ers "a$e em("asize ) =or t"e (rocess to work as esire , t"e u'tra ense ark energy "a to &egin in a $ery s(ecific configuration) 7n fact, its entro(y "a to &e fantastica''y sma''er t"an t"e entro(y of t"e "ot, ense gas into w"ic" it ecaye ) T"at im('ies inf'ation "as not rea''y so'$e anyt"ing1 it -e3('ains. a state of unusua''y 'ow entro(y ;a "ot, ense, uniform gas< &y in$oking a (rior state of e$en 'ower entro(y ;a smoot" (atc" of s(ace ominate &y u'tra ense ark energy<) 7t sim('y (us"es t"e (uzz'e &ack a ste(1 ?"y i inf'ation e$er "a((en% !ne of t"e reasons many cosmo'ogists in$oke inf'ation as an e3('anation of time asymmetry is t"at t"e initia' configuration of ark energy oes not seem a'' t"at un'ike'y) At t"e time of inf'ation, our o&ser$a&'e uni$erse was 'ess t"an a centimeter across) 7ntuiti$e'y, suc" a tiny region oes not "a$e many microstates, so it is not so im(ro&a&'e for t"e uni$erse to stum&'e &y acci ent into t"e microstate corres(on ing to inf'ation) #nfortunate'y, t"is intuition is mis'ea ing) T"e ear'y uni$erse, e$en if it is on'y a centimeter across, "as e3act'y t"e same num&er of microstates as t"e entire o&ser$a&'e uni$erse oes to ay) Accor ing t"e ru'es of 0uantum mec"anics, t"e tota' num&er of microstates in a system ne$er c"anges) ;6ntro(y increases not &ecause t"e num&er of microstates oes &ut &ecause t"e system natura''y win s u( in t"e most generic (ossi&'e macrostate)< 7n fact, t"e ear'y uni$erse is t"e same ("ysica' system as t"e 'ate uni$erse) !ne e$o'$es into t"e ot"er, after a'') Among a'' t"e ifferent ways t"e microstates of t"e uni$erse can arrange t"emse'$es, on'y an incre i&'y tiny fraction corres(on to a smoot" configuration of u'tra ense ark energy (acke into a tiny $o'ume) T"e con itions necessary for inf'ation to &egin are e3treme'y s(ecia'ize an t"erefore escri&e a $ery 'ow entro(y configuration) 7f you were to c"oose configurations of t"e uni$erse ran om'y, you wou' &e "ig"'y un'ike'y to "it on t"e rig"t con itions to start inf'ation) 7nf'ation oes not, &y itse'f, e3('ain w"y t"e ear'y uni$erse "as a 'ow entro(y> it sim('y assumes it from t"e start) A Time-Symmetric #ni$erse T"us, inf'ation is of no "e'( in e3('aining w"y t"e (ast is ifferent from t"e future) !ne &o' &ut sim('e strategy is 4ust to say1 (er"a(s t"e $ery far (ast is not ifferent from t"e future after a'') 8er"a(s t"e istant (ast, 'ike t"e future, is actua''y a "ig"-entro(y state) 7f so, t"e "ot, ense state we "a$e &een ca''ing -t"e ear'y uni$erse. is actua''y not t"e true &eginning of t"e uni$erse &ut rat"er 4ust a transitiona' state &etween stages of its "istory) Some cosmo'ogists imagine t"at t"e uni$erse went t"roug" a -&ounce). Before t"is e$ent, s(ace was contracting, &ut instea of sim('y cras"ing to a (oint of infinite ensity, new ("ysica' (rinci('es/

0uantum gra$ity, e3tra imensions, string t"eory or ot"er e3otic ("enomena/kicke in to sa$e t"e ay at t"e 'ast minute, an t"e uni$erse came out t"e ot"er si e into w"at we now (ercei$e as t"e &ig &ang) T"oug" intriguing, &ouncing cosmo'ogies o not e3('ain t"e arrow of time) 6it"er entro(y was increasing as t"e (rior uni$erse a((roac"e t"e crunc"/in w"ic" case t"e arrow of time stretc"es infinite'y far into t"e (ast/or t"e entro(y was ecreasing, in w"ic" case an unnatura' 'ow-entro(y con ition occurre in t"e mi 'e of t"e uni$erse5s "istory ;at t"e &ounce<) 6it"er way, we "a$e again (asse t"e &uck on t"e 0uestion of w"y t"e entro(y near w"at we ca'' t"e &ig &ang was sma'') 7nstea 'et us su((ose t"at t"e uni$erse starte in a "ig"-entro(y state, w"ic" is its most natura' state) A goo can i ate for suc" a state is em(ty s(ace) :ike any goo "ig"-entro(y state, t"e ten ency of em(ty s(ace is to 4ust sit t"ere, unc"anging) So t"e (ro&'em is1 +ow o we get our current uni$erse out of a eso'ate an 0uiescent s(acetime% T"e secret mig"t 'ie in t"e e3istence of ark energy) 7n t"e (resence of ark energy, em(ty s(ace is not com('ete'y em(ty) ='uctuations of 0uantum fie' s gi$e rise to a $ery 'ow tem(erature/enormous'y 'ower t"an t"e tem(erature of to ay5s uni$erse &ut nonet"e'ess not 0uite a&so'ute zero) A'' 0uantum fie' s e3(erience occasiona' t"erma' f'uctuations in suc" a uni$erse) T"at means it is not (erfect'y 0uiescent> if we wait 'ong enoug", in i$i ua' (artic'es an e$en su&stantia' co''ections of (artic'es wi'' f'uctuate into e3istence, on'y to once again is(erse into t"e $acuum) ;T"ese are rea' (artic'es, as o((ose to t"e s"ort-'i$e -$irtua'. (artic'es t"at em(ty s(ace contains e$en in t"e a&sence of ark energy)< Among t"e t"ings t"at can f'uctuate into e3istence are sma'' (atc"es of u'tra ense ark energy) 7f con itions are 4ust rig"t, t"at (atc" can un ergo inf'ation an (inc" off to form a se(arate uni$erse a'' its own/a &a&y uni$erse) !ur uni$erse may &e t"e offs(ring of some ot"er uni$erse) Su(erficia''y, t"is scenario &ears some resem&'ance to t"e stan ar account of inf'ation) T"ere, too, we (osit t"at a (atc" of u'tra ense ark energy arises &y c"ance, igniting inf'ation) T"e ifference is t"e nature of t"e starting con itions) 7n t"e stan ar account, t"e (atc" arose in a wi' 'y f'uctuating uni$erse, in w"ic" t"e $ast &u'k of f'uctuations (ro uce not"ing resem&'ing inf'ation) 7t wou' seem to &e muc" more 'ike'y for t"e uni$erse to f'uctuate straig"t into a "ot &ig &ang, &y(assing t"e inf'ationary stage a'toget"er) 7n ee , as far as entro(y is concerne , it wou' &e e$en more 'ike'y for t"e uni$erse to f'uctuate straig"t into t"e configuration we see to ay, &y(assing t"e (ast 12 &i''ion years of cosmic e$o'ution) 7n our new scenario, t"e (ree3isting uni$erse was ne$er ran om'y f'uctuating> it was in a $ery s(ecific state1 em(ty s(ace) ?"at t"is t"eory c'aims/an w"at remains to &e (ro$e /is t"at t"e most 'ike'y way to create uni$erses 'ike ours from suc" a (ree3isting state is to go t"roug" a (erio of inf'ation, rat"er t"an f'uctuating t"ere irect'y) !ur uni$erse, in ot"er wor s, is a f'uctuation &ut not a ran om one) 6mit fo ?orra T"is scenario, (ro(ose in 2002 &y Eennifer *"en of t"e #ni$ersity of *"icago an me, (ro$i es a (ro$ocati$e so'ution to t"e origin of time asymmetry in our o&ser$a&'e uni$erse1 we see on'y a tiny (atc" of t"e &ig (icture, an t"is 'arger arena is fu''y time-symmetric) 6ntro(y can increase wit"out 'imit t"roug" t"e creation of new &a&y uni$erses) Best of a'', t"is story can &e to' &ackwar an forwar in time) 7magine t"at we start wit" em(ty s(ace at some (articu'ar moment an watc" it e$o'$e into t"e future an into t"e (ast) ;7t goes &ot" ways &ecause we are not (resuming a uni irectiona' arrow of time)< Ba&y uni$erses f'uctuate into e3istence

in &ot" irections of time, e$entua''y em(tying out an gi$ing &irt" to &a&ies of t"eir own) !n u'tra'arge sca'es, suc" a mu'ti$erse wou' 'ook statistica''y symmetric wit" res(ect to time/&ot" t"e (ast an t"e future wou' feature new uni$erses f'uctuating into 'ife an (ro'iferating wit"out &oun ) 6ac" of t"em wou' e3(erience an arrow of time, &ut "a'f wou' "a$e an arrow t"at was re$erse wit" res(ect to t"at in t"e ot"ers) T"e i ea of a uni$erse wit" a &ackwar arrow of time mig"t seem a'arming) 7f we met someone from suc" a uni$erse, wou' t"ey remem&er t"e future% +a((i'y, t"ere is no anger of suc" a ren ez$ous) 7n t"e scenario we are escri&ing, t"e on'y ('aces w"ere time seems to run &ackwar are enormous'y far &ack in our (ast/'ong &efore our &ig &ang) 7n &etween is a &roa e3(anse of uni$erse in w"ic" time oes not seem to run at a''> a'most no matter e3ists, an entro(y oes not e$o'$e) Any &eings w"o 'i$e in one of t"ese time-re$erse regions wou' not &e &orn o' an ie young/or anyt"ing e'se out of t"e or inary) To t"em, time wou' f'ow in a com('ete'y con$entiona' fas"ion) 7t is on'y w"en com(aring t"eir uni$erse to ours t"at anyt"ing seems out of t"e or inary/our (ast is t"eir future, an $ice $ersa) But suc" a com(arison is (ure'y "y(ot"etica', as we cannot get t"ere an t"ey cannot come "ere) As of rig"t now, t"e 4ury is out on our mo e') *osmo'ogists "a$e contem('ate t"e i ea of &a&y uni$erses for many years, &ut we o not un erstan t"e &irt"ing (rocess) 7f 0uantum f'uctuations cou' create new uni$erses, t"ey cou' a'so create many ot"er t"ings/for e3am('e, an entire ga'a3y) =or a scenario 'ike ours to e3('ain t"e uni$erse we see, it "as to (re ict t"at most ga'a3ies arise in t"e aftermat" of &ig &angG'ike e$ents an not as 'one'y f'uctuations in an ot"erwise em(ty uni$erse) 7f not, our uni$erse wou' seem "ig"'y unnatura') But t"e take-"ome 'esson is not any (articu'ar scenario for t"e structure of s(acetime on u'tra'arge sca'es) 7t is t"e i ea t"at a striking feature of our o&ser$a&'e cosmos/t"e arrow of time, arising from $ery 'ow entro(y con itions in t"e ear'y uni$erse/can (ro$i e us wit" c'ues a&out t"e nature of t"e uno&ser$a&'e uni$erse) As mentione at t"e &eginning of t"is artic'e, it is nice to "a$e a (icture t"at fits t"e ata, &ut cosmo'ogists want more t"an t"at1 we seek an un erstan ing of t"e 'aws of nature an of our (articu'ar uni$erse in w"ic" e$eryt"ing makes sense to us) ?e o not want to &e re uce to acce(ting t"e strange features of our uni$erse as &rute facts) T"e ramatic time asymmetry of our o&ser$a&'e cosmos seems to &e offering us a c'ue to somet"ing ee(er/a "int to t"e u'timate workings of s(ace an time) !ur task as ("ysicists is to use t"is an ot"er c'ues to (ut toget"er a com(e''ing (icture) 7f t"e o&ser$a&'e uni$erse were a'' t"at e3iste , it wou' &e near'y im(ossi&'e to account for t"e arrow of time in a natura' way) But if t"e uni$erse aroun us is a tiny (iece of a muc" 'arger (icture, new (ossi&i'ities (resent t"emse'$es) ?e can concei$e of our &it of uni$erse as 4ust one (iece of t"e (uzz'e, (art of t"e ten ency of t"e 'arger system to increase its entro(y wit"out 'imit in t"e $ery far (ast an t"e $ery far future) To (ara("rase ("ysicist 6 war Tryon, t"e &ig &ang is easier to un erstan if it is not t"e &eginning of e$eryt"ing &ut 4ust one of t"ose t"ings t"at "a((ens from time to time) !t"er researc"ers are working on re'ate i eas, as more an more cosmo'ogists are taking serious'y t"e (ro&'em (ose &y t"e arrow of time) 7t is easy enoug" to o&ser$e t"e arrow/a'' you "a$e to o is mi3 a 'itt'e mi'k into your coffee) ?"i'e si((ing it, you can contem('ate "ow t"at sim('e act can &e trace a'' t"e way &ack to t"e &eginning of our o&ser$a&'e uni$erse an (er"a(s &eyon ) T"is story was origina''y (rinte wit" t"e tit'e HT"e *osmic !rigins of TimeIs ArrowH